Theatre Albany set to rock into 91st season with ‘All Shook Up’

ALBANY — It’s fitting, perhaps, that Theatre Albany has chosen to kick off its 91st season in September with the Elvis-themed “All Shook Up.”

The theater itself is, well, in a state of “shook up” after the abrupt departure of General Manager Justin Neal.

“It’s a long story and I don’t want to get into it too deeply,” Neal said of his departure. “I’ll just say there was an issue with certain people in the theater. But I want to make it clear that I love the people who are part of Theatre Albany, and I don’t want to say anything that will affect how people see the theater.

“My wife and I knew that we would one day transition out of Albany; we’re just going to do it now sooner than we’d planned. We’ll use (the departure) as a catalyst.”

Neal had just finished his directorial debut with the theater’s well-received production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

Theatre Albany officials, though, have moved on with plans to kick off season No. 91, which they’re labeling “Journeys of the Mind — From Dreams to Destiny.”

Board President Lindsey Stewart laid out some of the changes coming to the theater in an email to The Albany Herald, including a new ticketing system that allows subscribers to log in to their package and pick their seats at any time, rather than wait for tickets to go on sale for each production.

“Once they receive their purchase confirmation email, it will include instructions on how to choose seats and apply their package,” Stewart said.

A familiar name — to Theatre Albany, and especially to Stewart — Dianne Giddens will serve as guest director for “All Shook Up,” which features the music of rock and roll king Elvis Presley. That play is set for Sept. 13-15 and 20-22. Auditions for the play are scheduled Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

“We did this show when I was (theater teacher) at Deerfield,” Giddens said. “Everyone had a lot of fun with the Elvis music.”

Joining Giddens for the production will be Music Director Gary Unger and Choreographer Judy Dabbs. That trio, Stewart noted, is the same team that brought “Mamma Mia,” “Matilda” and “Something Rotten” to the Theatre Albany stage.

Other shows planned for the new season include:

“It’s a Wonderful Life a Live Radio Play” — Dec. 13-15, with Stewart serving as director;

“TA Rising Stars Presents: The Lion King Jr.” — Jan. 17-19/24-26, Guest Director Shelley Keeley;

“August Wilson’s Fences” — March 7-9/14-16, Guest Director Ta’Varis Wilson, director of theater at Albany State University;

“Little Women the Musical” — May 30-June 1/June 6-8, Guest Director Demi Davis Addison.

Auditions for “All Shook Up” will be held Sunday from 3-5 p.m., and Monday and Tuesday from 6-8 p.m., Giddens said.

Stewart noted that the theater office will not be staffed full-time during the summer, so the best method to receive the quickest response to questions is to email board@theatrealbany. The attached Google folder has access to subscription and sponsorship forms with extra information on benefits of subscribing or sponsoring:                                                      https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12T-qaGcaMxTfcomhpIMsUd10VjGhh_Nq?usp=sharing.

Stewart said that anyone interested in being a part of the Theatre Albany team through directing, choreographing, managing, etc. can always find opportunities and applications through the theater’s website.